As you can see, posts are now shown as cards, just like on Google+ for the desktop. Furthermore, the right-most screenshot above shows the addition of cover photos, which both profiles and pages now utilize. Larger tap targets are only really noticeable if you’re using the social network on a touchscreen device.

Many have noted that the emphasis on cards makes the service look like Pinterest. Whether you agree with that or not, Google+ is now more consistent across desktop, apps, and the mobile Web, although the iOS app has yet to join the fray (though it has had cards for a while now).

Personally, I find the new design to be worse than what Google+ offered before. On my low-resolution monitor, there is simply less content displayed, which results in a lot more scrolling.

On a mobile screen that is usually held vertically, this may be okay. Still, just because something works on mobile doesn’t mean it should be forced on the desktop.

Emil was a reporter for The Next Web between 2012 and 2014. Over the years, he has covered the tech industry for multiple publications, including Ars Technica, Neowin, TechSpot, ZDNet, and CNET. Stay in touch via Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.